Seek Great Things?


"And seekest thou great things for thyself? seek them not"

-Jeremiah 45:5 [KJV]

These are personal words of encouragement from Jeremiah to his scribal friend, Baruch. We all need encouraging from others, especially in a situation like Baruch's, when he was suffering mental anguish from being associated with the prophet Jeremiah. So, as Jehovah's messenger, Jeremiah assures Baruch that he will be spared from the coming judgment on the land, and that there is no need to "seek great things" for himself, the Lord favoring him in sovereign mercy. I often think of this text when I consider my "low" position in life. That is, if I begin to question why I am not cast among the so-called "great ones" of earth (whether politicians, businessmen, popular preachers, etc.), I am here reminded, "Seek them not."

That settles it, for I know it is wrong to seek to be "great" in this world. Only our God and Savior are truly "great" (Psalm 145:3-6; Luke 1:32). Christ alone is "awesome," "glorious," "majestic," and "immortal," but puny sinners like to try and steal His incommunicable attributes, don't they? Therefore, let's quit calling ourselves, "awesome." Listen to these wise words on our text from J. C. Philpot: "Whatever schemes and projects the Lord's people may devise that they may prosper and get on in the world, He rarely suffers their plans to thrive. He knows well to what consequences it would lead—that this ivy creeping round the stem would, as it were, suffocate and strangle the tree. The more that worldly goods increase, the more the heart is fixed upon them; and the more the affections are set upon idols, the more is the heart drawn away from the Lord. He will not suffer His people to have their portion here below. He, therefore, says to them in His providence, as well as in His word, 'Seek them not.' But you will perhaps say, 'What are we then to seek?' I will tell you in a word --- realities."


Read that again, for Philpot is most definitely right. We must not desire to be little gods ourselves, where others brag on us or even worship us. On our death bed, that will matter very little, will it not? Only the grace of God in our Lord Jesus Christ will do us any good in the hour of death. Note, only grace, not any personal gifts or talents or any human praise! Thus we say with the psalmist: "Not unto us, O LORD, not unto us, but unto Thy name give glory, for Thy mercy, and for Thy truth's sake" (Psalm 115:1).


-Gospel Report by preacher Wm. F. Bell

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